The Most Difficult Becomes the Best

By Lydia Chorpening

The hazy skies pressed their relentless heat upon me as I left my familiar world of San Antonio, Texas. Heading into Wisconsin’s northern zone left me less than excited. I was leaving, not only my familiar, my past, my three teen-age daughters, but also what I thought was a call of God.
Needless to say, although I left skid marks from my emotional heels digging into Interstate 35 all the way north, this was the place that God had brought me to—a place of being stripped bare of my identity, my glowing crown of being an overseas missionary. I had no beautiful daughters to push ahead of me as I stepped into a new world and into a new church.
Of all the many moves we had made prior to this one, none seemed as difficult to me. Leaving Iowa, living in Missouri, owning a home in Florida, the on-campus life in Texas and even the moving about in the Philippines had not prepared me for this challenge.
Russell, my husband, saw the job opportunity and the privilege to get out of the big city. I stepped unwittingly into the opportunity of working with developmentally disabled adults. Even though it took me years to respect and embrace this new ministry it proved to be a God-place.
During this time period God begin to pry open my heart to the clutter I held onto. As I was released from the bondages of fear, legalism and a failure mentality, God miraculously showed me new avenues of ministry. One of those is through writing. God has given me many pieces of poetry and so far two books to write.
The first book, The Seven Robes of Joseph, Steps to Fulfilling Your God-given Dreams, helps the reader find himself in the life of Joseph, leading them into Bible study and finally into the reality of their destiny. The book is now translated into Spanish and can be ordered online.
Bigger than Impossible shows the passing vapor of impossible, while establishing the God-possible. It is an incredible read, packed with personal experiences. It helps the reader turn their impossibilities into God-possible! This book can be obtained by contacting the Author: Lydia Chorpening.
Summing This Up: when you’re at the end of your road in God’s Kingdom, you’ll find that you’re at the beginning of God’s brand new opportunity.

America, the Beautiful

This writing has been modified by Lydia Chorpening and adapted from the great works created by Katherine Lee Bates. The music was produced by Samuel A. Ward. As a child I would sit in our shabby front yard in the Missouri countryside and sing the words of this song heavenward. I now sing them modified and through tears. Sing it again with me and turn it into a heart-felt prayer.

Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountains majesty, above the fruited plain.
America! America! God shed his grace on thee...
But you have turned your face from Him-denied your liberty!

Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet. Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness
America! America! Amend your every flaw
and turn thy soul again to God and His eternal law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy hearts refine
Till every soul, in righteousness, bow to Christ's cross divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thy alabaster cities dimmed, by sinfulness and fears
America! America! God shed His grace on thee
He calls for us to follow him to Calvary's rugged tree.

Let your voice be heard for liberty and life!

I Am Amazed

God's goodness is limitless.
His mercies are new every morning.
He creates all thing for his glory.
He thoughts are loving, true and righteous
He is everywhere present.
He is always near to help those who call on Him.
He is the first, the One present before creation.
He is eternal. That means:
He will never end.
He will never die.
He will never be outdone or defeated.
His love is fathomless.
His truth is unsearchable.
His righteousness is established
His mercy springs from His heart.
He is authentic, always trustworthy.
He is doubtless and credible.
Let us reverence Him!
Let us respect and fear Him!
Let us bow our heads before Him in praise and submission!
He is Lord, and without Him, we are nothing!